Toyota
The stand-off is between the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the teams, who held talks with their drivers amid rising tension about regulations that will be imposed next year.
Representatives of Williams and Force India, who have both been suspended from FOTA, the teams’ association, did not attend.
One of the drivers, Jano Trulli of Toyota, said the drivers shared the same stance as their teams, and expressed concern that time was running out with the FIA due to publish the 2010 entry list on Friday. “As far as the political part is concerned, I don’t know much. I know that in the next week something should move, must move. Otherwise there will inevitably be a split,” he said.
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The eight teams in the association have submitted entries, but these are conditional on the 2010 rules being rewritten and a new commercial agreement being signed by June 12. The Times
FIA president Max Mosley has so far rebuffed the teams’ suggestions, which include signing a new governing accord that would keep teams in the sport through 2012.
Ferrari driver Felipe Massa called the entire standoff “ridiculous.”
“It’s a nightmare what’s happening with this fight. We wanted to know as drivers and we wanted to give our opinion,” the Brazilian said.
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso of Renault firmly backed his team’s unwillingness to commit to the new rules, a position widely shared among F1’s drivers.
“I prefer any other category to the new F1,” the Spaniard said. “A similar model to (feeder series) GP2 or Formula Three is not interesting for any pilot, any sponsor, circuit or TV. In this case, it would be a totally senseless category.” The Associated Press
Waiting in the wings are 11 new teams happy to race under the £40million cap proposed by FIA president Max Mosley, but Ferrari star Massa, like Renault’s Fernando Alonso and Toyota’s Jarno Trulli, has made it clear a breakaway series is not just an empty threat.
“As drivers we want to race in the best category, and that means the one that has the best technology, best teams and best drivers, a category that is the top one in motorsport.”
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“If we do what Mr Mosley wants, then we will not be at the top of motorsport. We will be in a different level.”
“That is why we (the drivers) are together with the teams, we are together with FOTA, who I hope can strike a deal. But if F1 is not possible because it is not F1 any more, then we will go to another championship.” The Press Association
